Oregon receiver Kris Hutson says late-game injury was 'part of the gameplan'
During the final drive of Oregon’s 37-34 loss to Washington last Saturday, Ducks’ receiver Kris Hutson made a 12-yard catch with six seconds left in regulation, then fell to the turf grabbing his leg.
The apparent injury prompted officials to call an injury timeout, which stopped the clock. At the time, Oregon did not have any timeouts remaining.
Hutson was forced to sit out the next play but returned for the final play of the game — a desperation heave from quarterback Bo Nix that fell incomplete.
In the days that followed, fans and reporters who follow the Washington program closely criticized Hutson and Oregon’s coaching staff, claiming they faked the injury in order to earn an extra timeout.
Ducks’ head coach Dan Lanning was asked about the play during his Wednesday media availability and declined to comment.
Later that afternoon, Hutson met with reporters and was asked if he had any comment or explanation regarding his late-game injury.
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“It was just part of the gameplan,” Hutson said. “It wasn’t nothing too special. I’m alright, though.”
A third-year sophomore, Hutson is second among Oregon receivers this season with 395 yards on 32 catches.
Earlier this week, Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer was asked for his thoughts on the incident.
“It’s just one of those things. What can you do?” DeBoer said during his Monday press conference. “The officials have to acknowledge, and I don’t want to be insensitive and if there’s an injury, that’s part of the game. Those things happen. I know those things are always looked at from a league level, and it’s a part of college football that we get into in our discussions in the offseason.
“But the officials have to acknowledge and honor that it’s an injury. As a coach, I guess that’s the way I have to, too. Just the timing of it is hard because you know the clock would have started. It is what it is. Fortunately, we were on the right end of it. We’re talking here today with a victory. So I do hope he’s OK.”
